Privilege Speech of Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino
Delivered on January 25, 2012

Madame Speaker, my dear colleagues in the House, a pleasant afternoon.

I rise to speak on the killing of Gerardo Ortega or Doc Gerry, a radio talk show host, veterinarian and environmental defender, who was shot dead in the back of the head in a thrift store in Puerto Princesa City, where he was shopping shortly after his daily broadcast on Radyo Mo Nationwide (RMN). This week is the first year commemoration of his tragic death. I also wish to discuss the case of Doc Gerry in relation to the alarming rise of human rights abuses suffered by environment advocates in the country.

Doc Gerry was a former Palawan provincial board member and a staunch critic of the anti-environment activities of the provincial administration and of mining companies in the province, often speaking out also against corruption in his radio program.

The police investigating his case suspected Doc Gerry’s broadcasts to be the motive for the killing. As the police stated in their investigation, “Ortega’s hard-hitting commentaries were against mining companies he had accused of destroying Palawan’s environment.”

The police filed charges against the hired assassin Marlon Recamata. Recamata implicated other suspects including one Rodolfo Edrad Jr, the security aide of former Governor Joel T. Reyes who, later on, was tagged by Edrad as the mastermind.

In June last year, a Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors’ panel absolved former Governor Reyes, along with other alleged principals – former Marinduque governor Jose Antonio “Bong” Carreon, Reyes’ brother and Coron Mayor Marjo Reyes Jr., and Reyes’ former provincial administrator Romeo Seratubias, who was already established by the police as the original owner of the murder weapon.

Only Edrad, Recamata and two accomplices, Dennis Aranas and Armando Noel, have been charged for Doc Gerry’s murder.

It came as shock that the prosecuting panel formed by the the Department of Justice has dropped the case against the implicated politicians. This despite the abundance of evidence to establish probable cause. Another special panel of prosecutors formed by the Department of Justice is reinvestigating the case.

Madame Speaker, my dear colleagues, the commemoration of Doc Gerry’s murder this week, amidst the busy impeachment proceedings, has got me to thinking: If President Aquino and the lower House were able to hasten the impeachment process, why can’t the same amount of time, energy and prioritization be given to address equally urgent issues such as extra-judicial killings and the deep-rooted impunity in all branches of the government?

While impeaching Chief Justice Corona and jailing former President Macapagal-Arroyo are essential, this should not eclipse the urgency of other people’s issues that are taking years to be even substantially addressed. Two among these issues I speak of today are extra-judicial killings and impunity.

The commemoration of Doc Gerry’s death is an agitating reminder that journalists and media practitioners remain in danger under the Aquino government. Why is it that the people behind the Maguindanao massacre have still not been brought to justice? Why is it that the family, friends and supporters of Doc Gerry are seemingly made to wait in vain before a basic warrant of arrest is issued against suspected politician masterminds?

We have to exercise political will to end impunity which remains strongly operational in our country up to this very day.

According to the environmental activist group Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE), Doc Gerry’s death is a serious loss to the movement for environmental protection and that environmental defenders like him are still targeted, hunted, and killed under Aquino government.

Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this statement is valid. What is more, it unearths another urgent issue that is closely tied with the killing of Doc Gerry – environmental degradation. The plundering of our country’s natural resources has proven to be a very bloody business not only due to degradation of our country’s natural wealth but also due to the killings of environmental advocates. Sadly, the case of Ortega is similar to other environment martyrs who were murdered because they wanted to preserve the natural wealth of our islands for the benefit of the next generation.

Since 2001, at least 51 recorded human rights violations against environmental advocates, including Ortega and nine others under the present government, have remained unaddressed. Of this number, 28 are anti-mining activists, including Doc Gerry.

The rise of human rights abuses in militarized mining areas can be attributed to the decision of Pres. Aquino to deploy regular army and CAFGU paramilitary forces in communities with mining applications and operations. Anti-mining activists are right to question this move since it violates the rights of rural villagers who are resisting the entry of big mining companies.

Doc Gerry’s killing is related to his active involvement in preserving the biodiversity and environment of Palawan against large-scale and foreign mining. He is a strong critic of mining projects and advocate for a mining moratorium in the province. He also consistently exposed the deforestation, pollution, community displacements and other impacts of mining in Palawan

Recently, our government proudly launched a tourism slogan “It is more fun in the Philippines” to promote the natural wonders of our country. This slogan, I am afraid, is blood-stained in light of the killings of environmental advocates like Doc Gerry, who precisely worked for the protection and preservation of our country’s natural beauty.

There is nothing fun, and certainly there is nothing democratic, in a country like the Philippines where media practitioners and environmental advocates are killed and are constantly at the risk of being killed.

Aside from Doc Gerry, we remember Eliezer “Boy” Billanes, Leonard Co, Armin Marin, Father Pops Tenorio, and other unsung green heroes whose tragic deaths should make us realize that environment advocacy is something the state should prioritize. At the minimum, we should ensure the safety of ordinary citizens who seek to be active in this cause. Our green warriors are doing something that the government should be spearheading but their sacrifice, it seems, is not highly appreciated by our leaders. Environment protection should not be a dangerous affair but unfortunately in this country, it’s even considered a national security issues.

Last year, I, together with other House members, filed House Resolution no. 0863 which seeks the Committee on Human Rights to investigate, in aid of legislation, the extrajudicial killing Doc Gerry on January 24, 2011.

Today, I once again urge Congress to revitalize efforts in swiftly exercising its political power for Doc Gerry, for all the victims of extrajudicial killings, for environmental protection and preservation, and for finally ending impunity in our country.

Madame Speaker, colleagues, may the speedy impeachment of Chief Justice Corona in the Lower Houser serve as a concrete inspiration in addressing the aforementioned issues that continue to plague our nation.

Thank you very much.